Originally I had just intended to make only one. Then last minute I thought up this green and white piece and it just killed me not to enter it. So for the past few days I've been hard at work finishing up the dress. I hope you like it too.

The dress is designed for spring. I imagined wearing this dress when attending a lunch with friends or on Sunday service or farmer's market stroll.

The color, obviously reminded me of spring. The way grass looks when first sprouting from the ground, all bright and noticeable.

I really loved the way the white looked against the grass green color of the dress. So crisp and sunny.

I really loved the design of the collar. It bears a V-neck trim that attaches to a tiny gathered portion of the front bodice.

Then I ruffle pleated a piece of matching fabric and added on top of the collar. I then added a white piping trimmed piece to keep the two in place.

The sleeves are tiny and capped just right for warm spring weather.

The skirt was rather interesting. It is pleated the entire way around the body. The top of the pleats are finished with a rolled white hem and are not sewn at the tops but rather at the middle giving the look of a skirt but the piece is attached.

The white waistband cinches the pieces together creating a nice flattering A-line waist and skirt. The pleats reach all the way to the bottom of the dress which falls to the knee. Very A-line, very flirty, very feminine.

I had my beautiful friend Abi model for me this time. Unfortunately, she was too tall for my tiny basement studio. So we had to ditch her pretty white heels at least for most of the shots.

Unfortunately we were resigned to taking the photos indoors. It now gets dark around 4:30pm here. Ugh. If not for Christmas, I'd really dread this time of year. I wish the holiday season lasted about one month longer so that the winter didn't seem so long and dreary.

Fortunately, I had these potted ornamental grass pieces on hand. But I have to admit that it's very difficult to photograph spring in the throws of November. By now many of the trees have already lost all of their leaves. I have a feeling it's going to be a long, long winter.

But this spring I'm going to enjoy myself. No more pregnancy sickness. I'm going to wear dresses and bake cold apple pie and have picnics and go on bike rides and just be really happy. That's my new year's resolution.

Yesterday I was thinking that I've been sick for so long it's difficult to remember what it's like to be well. I'm sure many of you have similar pregnancy stories. I don't recall being this sick with either Lily or Molly.

When Abi came over last night to do the shoot I admitted that I usually don't put make up on, even to go out in public and when I do I leave it on until the next day and just wear what's left over.

I even wore sweat pants out on Halloween night. Whatever. At this point, I'd rather be comfy than sick.

Mmmm, look at that popsicle. It's lime. When I opened the box I expected them to be green but I think white turned out better anyway. It was actually really tasty and I ate it throughout the shoot. Nice treat for baby. I bought them at Giant. They're called 'Whole Fruit' bars and they also come in Mango and Strawberry. Very spring, very refreshing to eat on a sunny porch.If I had to sew this dress over again I'd probably use a stiffer material. It was difficult for me to find the right color of green in the right sort of fabric. I would have liked the top of the skirt piece to stick up more at the top by maybe a half an inch?

But the pleats really make the dress quite full at the bottom. I didn't need any under skirt to fluff this out. I used a circular shape which also helped to create an A-line.

I also want to thank Abi for taking the time to stop by last night after work and take these photos with me. She's a very busy girl and I was lucky to have her as a model. We enjoyed the post-shoot ordering pizza and talking kids. I hope she approves of the pictures I chose:)

We also talked about Christmas and gifts and how she possibly wanting a nice camera for Christmas. I was eager to give her some DSLR advice. I really don't know what to get Brian for Christmas. At first I loftily thought, some kind of vacation? Then I remembered, you can't fly being 9 months pregnant. Duh. You can't take a cruise to the middle of the ocean! You really can't do too much.Then after baby? I think it might be quite a while before we can go on a nice tropical location sans babies. I don't think I could possible ask someone to watch all three under 5yrs. That's quite a tall order. What about some of you, what has been your experience with kids and vacations?

I'd say this dress would fit a size 2-5. If you'd like to win this dress just link to this post either using the 'create a link' at the bottom of this post orsimply creating a post on your blog and including this link.

If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link at the top. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

Update!! While creating a link is still the only requirement for entering a giveaway, leaving a comment along with your link makes it much easier to find your entry. This is mostly due to the fact that blog roll links often show up in my search for entries and can be difficult to sort through.

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I LOVE this dress...especially the color. I'm a red head with green eyes and I have wanted just this color green dress forever! Unfortunately I do not fit in the 2-5 range. But I love the creativity you put in to this dress. It looks runway quality!

I absolutely adore this dress, green is my favorite color, does great things for my green eyes! Yes, Spring....wouldn't it be fun to wear this in the Spring, and Summer...and...I hope I win this one, it would fit me perfectly!

The lemon dress you made was lovely, but I think this one is even more beautiful! If only I could go down a size or two I would absolutely enter the giveaway. Any chance you'll be posting about some more thrift store refashions soon?

That dress is absolutely gorgeous! My mom said that I probably am a 4. Anyways, I put the link on my blog. And I really hope that I win. I don't own much green dresses, or dresses for that matter. I am a skirt person but I love the pretty dresses that aren't specifically for going to a certain place. I could wear it to my town Tea bar, or to my friends house, or just around the house baking. :) I have blond hair and blue eyes I wonder how it would look on me...

Oh it's so not fair! Some people have all the sewing talent in the world and some (like me) can barely thread a needle. If you lived close to me, I'd be hounding you for sewing lessons. This and the one before are SO VERY beautiful - it's really generous of you to give them away. If I'd made them (and it's a very big if) I would never want to part with such beauties. Here's my link:http://gourmetgirl101.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

What a lovely dress! You are so talented, Kathleen! This green is such a great color. In fact, I lost the belt to my black quilted winter trench and so I improvised with a sash in this exact color! "Think Spring" through winter is definitely my moto too!

It was linked faster than you can say linked. I blogged stating it would be a perfect dress to wear while my family makes it's first trip to Mexico for my baby Evelyn Marie to meet her Abuelita y Abuelito.What a beautiful design and color. I have fair skin, dark brown hair with green eyes. I LOVE it!

Love the shade of this dress its a stand out!the skirt pleat is my fave part of this dress its such a fun effect!Ive added a link to my blog side bar

Reading about your cooler weather makes me slightly envious as we are having a heat wave here in Sydney Australia!My sister is expecting her second bub in january (the height of our summer) so I think your better off than her hahaa

This is one gorgeous dress - just right for Christmas parties here in Australia where the weather is warm and sunny right now.

After pregnancy,birth - last Christmas (and breastfeeding) I have been unable to wear dresses but am finally getting my baby to drink from a sippy cup so I can feel like a lady again in a dress instead of t-shirts all the time. I *think* this is my size as our sizings are different here but I bought a size 4 pair of jeans over there in the US that are a great fit so here's hoping!

And as for experiences on travelling with children - we flew to the US to see New York, LA, went to my graduation in Ann Arbor and then to New England to meet DH's rellies with a 4m old and a 3.5yr old. It was tricky at times but definitely doable - the trick is to have plenty of time and not to try and cram in too much sight seeing. A day of activities for the adults (that the kids tag along to) needs to be followed with energy burning kid activities the next day, especially when they are pent up in hotel rooms or strapped in strollers most of the time.

This dress was made with me in mind. I don't know if you know that, but it was. Green is my favorite color. I love bright colors and I love this dress. See you made it with me in mind. Love you for that!

This dress is so joyful. I love it. I am a size 4 and love green! I usually dress in black, whites and grays but i love to wear bright colors when it is something very special like this dress. It is so wonderful and makes me want to put a record on and dance with my hubby around the kitchen. I love it.

I love the dress and your skills. This will fit totally for my new year resolution of being more feminine. Here's my link:http://ourfamilyisaworkofheart.blogspot.com/2009/11/shabby-apple-dare-to-design-lawn-frock.html

I stumbled across your website and I'm in love. Especially with this green dress. As a seamstress, I can really appreciate the effort that went into making such a well structured and tailored dress.lewispie.blogspot.com

I'd LOVE this dress for myself...although I still need a few more post-baby months (my youngest is 5 months). Even more, I'd love it now for my oldest daughter...and later, her THREE SISTERS! A great classic piece for all of us!

I also love the dress and finally received sufficient motivation to start an account so I could participate in these contests. I have loved everything I have seen before, but now I will be linking your blog as often as I dare.